December 16, 2010

After years of recalls - and the deaths of 30 babies in the past decade - the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to ban drop-side cribs Wednesday. Under the new law, it will be illegal to sell a drop-side crib, even at garage sales, after June 2011. Hotels and daycare centers will have two years to switch to fixed-side cribs. While some parents might argue that drop-side cribs are more convenient, they recognize that it’s a small price to pay for safety, according to one store owner. When a drop-side crib malfunctions, a v-shaped gap is formed between the mattress and the side rail where a baby’s head can get stuck. In the past five years, more than nine million drop-side cribs have been recalled in the US.

The Obama administration wants everyone to know how to survive a nuclear attack. According to CBS News, Stanford professor Mark Hellmen says that a baby born today with a lifespan of about 80 years faces a greater than 50-50 risk of a nuclear attack unless available weapons-grade material and weapons can be greatly reduced. Tips on surviving a nuclear bomb include getting to shelter immediately, preferably a brick or concrete building. If you're in a multi-story building, go to the middle floor of that building. Basements provide good shelter, but cars don't protect against radiation. You should never try to go find a loved one: Children in daycare or school should stay there.

Caffeine consumption by kids doesn't affect the rate of bed wetting, but experts still advise caution when it comes to kids and caffeine. CNN reports that preliminary study findings, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, show that kids who consume caffeine don't experience an increase in bed wetting compared to kids who don't drink caffeine. However, study investigators remain cautious about the results, advising parents of bet wetters to cut back on their child's caffeine intake as the day wears on. Caffeine is a diuretic, which increases the need to urinate. Researchers are planning a follow-up study on caffeine and bed wetting to start next year.

Tessalon (benzonatate) liquid cough capsules are a safety risk to children under 10 years old who may view the medicine as a candy, says the FDA. While the round, liquid-filled gelatin capsules can tempt children, the drug isn't safe for kids under 10 years old. Accidental ingestion of Tessalon by kids can be deadly, or result in serious side effects. “Benzonatate should be kept in a child-resistant container and stored out of reach of children," said Carol Holquist, R.Ph., director of FDA’s Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis. For patients older than 10 years, Tessalon is approved by the FDA for symptomatic relief of cough.

Avastin doesn't work that well for treating breast cancer, and it carries the risk of serious side effects, warns the FDA while advising that the drug be discontinued for breast cancer treatment. Drug companies typically follow the recommendations of the FDA, but the makers of Avastin aren't doing that. Swiss drugmaker Roche is going to request a public meeting on the FDA's recommendation. While many cancer patients are fighting to keep the drug approved for breast cancer treatment, recent studies revealed that Avastin hasn't lived up to its original promise of extending the lives of breast cancer patients. In 2008, the FDA cleared Avastin under an accelerated approval program, which allows for rescinding approval if additional studies don't confirm initial research findings.

Earlier this year, a nationwide study by the Vegetarian Resource Group found that 3 percent of 8 to 18 year olds never eat meat, poultry or seafood, up from 1.4 percent in 1995. According to the VRG’s nutrition advisor Reed Mangels, that is an estimated 1.4 young vegetarians in the US today. He also notes that two-thirds of the meatless children are also vegan, abstaining also from dairy products and eggs. “Vegetarianism is definitely a more mainstream choice than ever before,” Mangels says. The American Dietetic Association notes that a well-balanced vegetarian diet can be healthful and appropriate at any age, but just like other diets, must include healthy food choices and not junk food. Especially for children, says pediatrician Hemant Sharma, who need nutrients for growth.

Even if you are in your mid-70s or beyond, you can still do a lot for your health to ensure longevity. Andrea Holwegner of the Windsor Star offers lifestyle and nutrition tips to boost vitality, even in the golden years. First, having a strong social network is important at all ages, but Holwegner notes that when you eat with others, you are more likely to make healthy food choices. She encourages meals that are high fiber to ensure proper digestion and adequate calcium intake from dairy or other foods. For those seniors with medical issues, it is important to stay on top of your health. For example, health conditions that commonly affect seniors (especially after the age of 65) include diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease and cholesterol, and cancer.

Drinking three glasses of milk per day may lead to an 18 percent decreased risk of cardiovascular disease say researchers from Harvard University and Wageningen University in the Netherlands. They conducted a review of 17 studies from Europe, the US, and Japan and found no link between the consumption of either regular or low-fat dairy and heart disease, stroke, or total mortality. While some may tell you to stick with lower fat milk to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, a 16-year Australian study found that those drinking the most whole milk actually had a 69 percent lower risk of cardiovascular death. Could it be the calcium content? A Swedish study in the review showed that men who consumed calcium above the recommended daily levels may reduce their risk of mortality by 25 percent.

In six months it will be illegal to sell cribs that drop down on one side in the United States, whether brand new or second hand. This type of crib has been linked to the death of several infants, prompting the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) to pass a law they believe is an "important step to providing a much needed added measure of safety to our young children's sleeping environment.” Over the last three years, dozens of fatalities related to this type of crib occurred when the drop down mechanism went awry and trapped an infant’s head or neck. The new law has put the U.S. in first place for the toughest baby crib standards in the world. Hotels and childcare centers have two years to replace the drop-side cribs.

Children in China between 7 and 12 years old with “lazy eye” who received acupuncture in points associated with vision saw similar improvement compared to children who has the standard treatment, wearing a patch for a couple hours a day. Eighty-eight children with the condition were split into two groups; those who received acupuncture one a week for five weeks and those who wore the patch for two hours a day. They also got new glasses and told to do near-vision activities for an hour every day. Forty-two percent of the kids who got acupuncture saw an improvement compared to 17 percent of those who wore the patch. Among those who improved, they improved by about two lines or greater on the eye chart. Researchers find the results interesting and are planning follow up studies.